Marking device



July 31, 1962 J. w. PEARSON 3,046,884

MARKING DEVICE Filed May 11, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2" -3 Fly.

IN VEN TOR.

/i i 3 JACK w. PEARSON Fig. 2

ATTORNEYS J. W. PEARSON MARKING DEVICE July 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed May 11, 1960 INVENTOR.

JACK W. PEA RS ON ATTORNEYS ilhit rates smash Patented J y 31, 19623346,88 1 MARKING DEVICE Jack W. Pearson, 141 Miami Ave, Elyria, OhioFiled May 11, 1960, Ser. No. 28,271 9 Claims. (Cl. 101329) My inventionrelates to marking devices and particularly to marking devices used formaking marks at predetermined intervals along a course.

An object of my invention is the provision of an improved device formaking marks along a board or the like such as a plate upon whichuprights are to be secured at spaced intervals in a building structure.

Another object is the provision for marking the centers for uprightsupon a building plate, such as a board at the base of a wall in abuilding structure.

Another object is the provision for marking locations for thepositioning of members to be erected at intervals along a base member ofa building structure.

Another object is the provision of a device for assuring accurate andspeedy marking of locations along a longitudinal member at predeterminedintervals.

Another object is the provision for facile means for rapid and accuratemarking of structural elements at spaced intervals therealong such asthe marking of centers for uprights along the horizontal members formingthe wall of a building structure.

Another object is the provision of an improved marking device operatingin a novel manner to obtain results not heretofore readily obtainable;

A particular use of this device is for marking the locations at whichtwo-by-four uprights, for example, are to be located along the length ofa board forming a base plate and also a horizontal board forming a topplate of a wall between which the uprights are to be secured.Ordinarily, a carpenter must laboriously measure oif the locations atwhich the uprights are to be positioned. As he starts from one end ofthe board upon which the locations are to be marked, there is a tendencyto accumulate errors or inaccuracies so that by the time the oppositeend of the board is reached, there may be considerable accumulatederror. It is a usual practice in this country, for example, to positionthe two-by-four uprights in a wall structure at 16-inch centers, thatis, spaced 16 inches apart. This requires the accurate marking of thelocations along upper and lower horizontal members, at which locationsthe upright members are to be secured. In some situations, markings areto be made at otherintervals, such as at 24-inch intervals. For example,the trusses and beams of a roof structure are sometimes placed at24-inch intervals along horizontal supporting members. This, of course,requires accurate marking of the locations at which such trusses orbeams are to be located. In the construction of many buildings, there isthe use of sheets of material, such as sheets of plywood, which have auniform width accepted in the trade. As the edge portions of thesesheets are to be mailed or secured to uprights, it is important that theuprights be accurately spaced so that there is correct correspondencebetween the locations of the uprights and the edges of the sheetmaterial secured thereto.

My invention has as an object the provision of a satisfactory andefficient tool useful for carrying out the foregoing function of markinglocations.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a marking device embodying myinvention;

FIGURE-2 is a left-hand end View of the device looking in the directionof the arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a right-hand end view looking in the direction of the arrows3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view looking upward from below the device shown inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device looking in thedirection of the arrows '5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device looking in thedirection of the arrows 66 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view looking in the direction of thearrows 7--7 of FIGURE 1.

The marking of lines and other indicia on a board or other structuralelement may 'be readily accomplished by any fluid "or flowable materialof various viscosities so long as the material is transferable and iscapable of being readily seen when applied to a surface of anothercolor, as for example, to the raw or unfinished color of a wooden board.For convenience this material for marking will be referred to as ink andit will be understood that this term includes such material as die,paint, stain and various colored liquids and pastes capable'of being"trueferred for application to a surface to be marked.

My device, as illustrated, includes a frame member denoted generally bythe reference character 11. This frame member is in the form of aninverted U, forming a longitudinal channel. One side portion of theframe 11 is denoted by the reference character 12 and the opposite sideportion is denoted by the reference character 13. The two side portions12 and 13 are joined along their upper edges by a back portion 14.

Although in this description there is reference to upper and lower partsof the device, it will be understood that these terms are merely usedfor convenience and as used refer to the disposition of the device asillustrated in FIGURE 1. Of course, the device may be used upsidedown tomark on the under surface of a structural element, such as a board orthe like. However, for convenience, in this description and in theclaims, directions and disposition of the parts will be as they appearin FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

Carried by the upper end of the back portion 14 and extending upwardlytherefrom and then rearwardly along the length of the body portion ofthe frame member 11 is a handle member 15. Preferably the body portion,made up of side portions 12 and 13, back portion 14, and handle portion15, is one integral casting, although it may be fabricated in other waysalso. Journaled to the side portions 12 and 13 inthe channeltherebetween is a marking roller 16, this roller being positionedadjacent the forward end of the frame member, that is, the end havingthe greatest height. This marking roller 16 has a knurled rim 16-a ofannular shape on opposite ends thereof. The spaced rims 16a protruderadially outward a short distance beyond the circumferential surface ofthe roller 16 intermediate the rims 16-a. The knurled rims 1*6a providefrictional engagement of the roller 16 with a board orthe like.

As better seen in FIGURE 6, the marking roller 16 has an inner hub 16-bextending therethrough, this hub being welded or otherwise secured to acylindrical sleeve 18 which extends from the opposite axial ends of theroller 16. A shaft 17 extends through aligned openings in the sideportions 12 and 13 of the frame member and through the cylindricalsleeve 18 in such a manner that the roller 16 is free to rotate on theaxis of the shaft 17. A set screw 19 may secure the sleeve 18 to theshaft 17. The shaft 17 is free to rotate within the aligned openings inthe side portions 12 and 13.

Mounted to the outer cylindrical surface of the roller 16 andintermediate the opposed rims 16a is a first inktransfer device 20. Thisdevice 20 has a flat base portion ZtP-a which is secured by cement,adhesive or other suitslightly flex when the protruding edge portion2il-b engages a surface to :be; marked. The material of the device issuch as to readily receive ink on the outer. surface of the edge portion20-b and to transfer the ink to a 7 surface engaged, such as the surfaceof a wooden board.

In the illustrated marking device, the marking roller 16 is dimensionedso as to have a circumference of 16 inches. Thus, the edge portion 204)of the ink-transfer device 21 recurrently is located in a downwardposition,

A such as in the position illustrated in the drawings, once everyrevolution and which would be at an interval of 16 inches along aboardor the like upon which the marking roller 16 is rolled. .Thus, theink-transfer device 20 would mark with ink a line corresponding to theouter surface of the edge portion 20-b every 16 inches along astructuralelement, such as a woodenboard, as the marking roller isrolled longitudinally of such a structural element. As seen in FIGURE 1,digits marked around the side of the marking roller 16 indicates eachone-inch interval around the circumference of the roller; A completerevolution of the marking roller 16 as it rolls along a flat surfacecomputes and marks the longitudinal distance of 16 inches, that beingthe circumference of the marking roller.

'Diametrically opposite the iirst'ink rran'sfer device 29 there may bemounted a second ink-trans fer device 21.

Assuming the ink-transfer device 20 is located in zero position in theroller 16, then ink-transfer device 21 is located 7 at the 8-inchlocation on the circumference of the roller.

In some uses of the marking device, it may be desired to mark24-inch'i'ntervals rather than, or inaddition to, the 16 inch intervals.In such a case, the second inktransfer device 21 is applied to theroller 16 and secured thereto by cement, adhesive or other suitablemeans. :The ink-transfer device 21 has a base portion 21-a which issecured to the outer circumferenceof the roller 16 between the rims 16-aand has extending radially outwardly I therefrom the edge portion 21-b.'I he ink-transfer device 21 1s diiferent from the ink transfer device20 in that the edge portion 21b on the outermost surface thereof isrelatively wide and relatively short. Thus, a mark inked by the outersurface of the edge portion 21-bon a board or the like may be readilydistinguished in appearance by the mark left by the relatively narrowand long outer surface of the edge portion 20b of the ink-transferdevice 20. In those cases where only one marking for each revolution ofthe roller 16 is desired, the ink-transfer de vice 21may1be eliminatedor removed.

Iournaled to the opposite side portions 12 and 13 and adjacent therearward end of the frame member, that is, {the right-hand end shown inFIGURES 1 and 5, is a slip porting roller 23. This supporting roller 23may bem-ade of wood, metal, or any other suitable material. The body ofthe roller 23 is mounted on a cylindrical sleeve 25 which, in turn, ismounted on a shaft 24 extending axially through the roller 23. A setscrew 26 secures the sleeve 25 to the shaft 24. The roller 23 is free torotate in the aligned openings in the side portions Hand 13. The axis:of the roller 23 is parallel to the axis of the roller 16. V

As seen in the drawings, the iowermost portions of the rollers 16 and 23are exposed below the bottom edge of the side portions 12 and 1350 as tobe free to engage the top surface of a structural element, such as aboard, along which the marking device is rolled. I

p Also journaled on the side portions 12 and 13 at a loca- I tionintermediate the rollers 16 and 23, is an ink-applying roller 28 in suchposition that the axis of the roller 28 is parallel to the axes of therollers 16 of felt padding or other suitable material used for absorbingand holding ink and capable of applying the absorbed ink to any objectengaging the peripheral surface of the pad portion 28-b. The coreportion 28-11 is mounted on a metal cylindrical sleeve 29 which ismounted 'upon a.

shaft 30. A set screw 31 secures the sleeve 29m the shaft 30. The endsof the shaft 30 extend through aligned openings in the side portions 12and 13 and the mounting is such that the roller 28 is free to rotaterelative to the side portions 12 and 13 to which it is journaled.

Upon rotation of the roller 16, the outer edge of the inktransfer device20 and the outer edge of the ink-transfer device 21 move by and engagewith the ink-applying roller 28 with sufiicient pressure that ink fromthe ink-applying roller 28' is evenly distributed to the outer edge ofthe respective ink-transfer devices 2! and 21. When only theink-transfer device 20 is mounted on the roller 16, then only thatink-transfer device has ink applied thereto by the ink-applying roller28; .When both devices 210 and 21 are mounted on the roller 16, then:both'h-ave ink applied thereto as they move by and engage theinkapplying roller 28. By having the ink-applying roller 28 rotativelymounted, there is less resistance to rotation of the roller 16 by reasonof the interengagement of the inktransfer devices 20 and 21 with theouter cylindrical sur-,

face of the ink-applying roller 28. The ink-applying roll- 'e'rv 28absorbs and holds a considerable amount of ink, but

upon its ink supply being exhausted, ink may be readily applied to theroller 28 so that it is again ready to act as a reservoir of to applythe ink as required to the inktransfer devices carried by the roller 16.

I In some instances, it may be desirable to prevent the A roller 16 fromrotating too freely and at too rapid a rate of rotation. T 0 providesome restraint on the rotation of the roller 16 and at the same timepermit it to readily rotate as the marking device is moved along a boardor the like in engagement therewith, there is provided a spring biaseddetent 32; This detent 32 is carried by a cap or cylindrical housing 34secured to the side portion 12. A coil spring 33 within the cap 34 urgesthe detent 32 inwardly against the side of the roller 16. A plurality ofdwells or small recesses 16c are provided in the side of the roller 16adjacent the detent 32 in such a manner that the detent 32 may readilyslide in and out of the dwells 1-6-0 as the roller 16 rotates. A slightclicking sound is effected as the detent 32 moves in and out of a dwell16-0, thus giving an audible signal. As the illustrated roller 16 has acircumference of 16 inches and there is a marking indicated for eachone-inch interval around the circumference, there are 16 dwells 16-0,each dwell indicating the occurrence of a one-inch interval.

Thus, the operator may both see and hear indicia and V signalsindicating the rotative position of the roller 16 as it rotates relativeto the frame member and rolls along a surface to be marked.

As one of the usual uses of this marking device is to make marks atintervals along a board, such as the horizontal plate upon whichuprights are to be mounted, it is desirable to provide guiding meanstoaid in assuring accurate longitudinal movement of the devicealong thelength of the board. By having the device move accurately along thelength of the board, it is assured that the ink marks applied to theboard will be at right angles to the longitudinal 'axis of the board.Also by having a guiding means, the operator may more easily move themarking device along the board without the device moving sidewards onthe board upon which the marking is to be applied. In such cases, theb'oardto be marked has one or both opposite sides exposed, theseopposite sides being at right angles to the surface to be marked. Forexample, on a horizontally disposed board to be marked, it may bedesired to mark the top surface and to use one and23. meme. 7 applyingroller 28 has a core portion 28-a around which; is formed an absorbentpad portion 28-b, which maybe or both vertically disposed sides of theboard to guide the movement of the marking device. For this purpose,there are provided guide plates 35 and 36 arranged parallel to and alongthe sides of the opposite side portions 12 and 13. A guide plate 35 iscarried by and disposed adjacent side portion 13. Guide plate 36 iscarried by and is disposed adjacent side portion 12. Guide plate 35 hasa pair of Jshaped slots 35a, each slot being adjacent the opposite endsof the plate 35. Also guide plate 36 has a pair of J-shaped slots 36-a,each of which is located adjacent an end of the guide plate 36. As seenin the drawings, the J-shaped slots 35-12 and 36-a and the guide plates35 and 36 are disposed with the long arm of each J-shaped slot in avertical position and with the short arm of each J-shaped slotextendinglaterally from the bottom of the long arm and bent or hooked slightlyupwardly of the outer end of the short arm of each slot.

The side portion 13 has extending outwardly therefrom a pair of spacedpins 37. Each pin 37 extends through a respective slot 35-a. The sideportion 12 has extending outwardly therefrom a pair of spaced pins 38.Each pin 38 extends through a respective slot Se-a. The outer ends ofthe pins 37 and 38 are enlarged to be broader than the width of theslots 35-a and 36-a and thus to retain the plates 35 and '36 adjacentand parallel to the respective side portions 13 and 12. By reason oftheinterfit of the protruding pins and the respective J-shaped slots, theguide plates 35 and 36 may be carried in an upper position or in a lowerposition. For example, :as seen in FIGURE 1, the guide plate 36 is shownin full lines in a raised position so that its lower edge substantiallycoincides with the lower edge of the side portion 12. The guide plate 36as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1 is in its lowermost position whereit is dis-. posed to guidingly engage the side of a board or the likealong which the marking tool is moved. To shift the guide plate 36between its upper and lower positions, the operator shifts the plate 36so that the pins 38 engage either the top of the long arm of theJ-shaped slots 36-a or the top of the short arm of the J-shaped slots36-a;

In the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 1, the pins 38 engage thetop surface of the short arms of the respective J-shaped slots 36-a andthus support the guide plate 36 in raised position. By moving the guideplate 36 so that the pins 38 are in alignment with the long verticalarms of the J-shaped slots 36-a, then the guide plate 36 movesdownwardly and the pins 38 are located at the top of the long verticalarms of the respective slots 36-a. The guide plate 35 on the other sideof the tool is similarly raised and lowered, as desired. Either guideplate 35 or 36 may be lowered or both guide plates 35 and 35 may beraised, or one or the other may be lowered while the other is held inraised position. Thus, guiding means are provided on alternative andboth sides of the marking tool so that either or both opposite edges ofa board or the like may be engaged by a guide plate and thus provideguidance for movement of the marking device along a board or the like.

In the use of the marking device, it is sometimes desirable topredetermine the starting position of the marking device relative to areference point at the end of a board r the like, such 'as relative to acorner post extending up from a horizontal board upon which marks are tobe applied. To provide for such relative positioning, an extensionmember 39 is provided which is in the form of a steel rule orlongitudinal measure carrying distance indicia thereon. This extensionmember 39 is slidably carried by a strap member 40 welded or otherwisesecured to the inner surface of the side portion 12 and so disposed thatthe extension member 39 may be slidably moved in the strap 46 to eitherextend rearwardly as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1 from the rear end:of the frame member 11, or to be moved forwardly so as to be entirelywithin the channel formed by the frame member 11, that is, so that therearward end of the extension member 39 does not protrude rearwardlybeyond the rear end of the frame member. This slidable extension memberor rule 39 has a forward bent over end 39-a and a rearward bent over end39-h, these ends 39-a and 39-b retaining the extension member 39 withinthe strap member 40 but at the same time permitting the sliding of theextension member 39 relative to the strap member 49.

The device is adapted to be moved along any surface for applying marksat intervals therealong. However, as suggested, one of its purposes isto mark a horizontally disposed board so as to apply marks on the upperhorizontal surface and which board has vertically disposed sides, one ormore of which is exposed for engaging a guide plate carried by themarking device. As seen in FIG- URE 2, such a board is indicated inbroken lines and denoted by the reference character 4-1. FIGURE 2 beingan end view of the device, the rectangle in dotted lines indicated bythe reference character 41 represents an end view or a cross-sectionalview of a board rather than a side view. The representation of a boardor the like has not been shown in connection with the other views of thedrawing in order to maintain clarity in the showing of the parts of themarking device.

The usefulness and practical desirability of the marking device hereillustrated will be appreciated by those having occasion to markstructural elements and to otherwise do marking at intervals along asurface and who are acquainted with the problems and difficultiesencountered without the benefit of this improved tool. 7

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims,as well as that of the foregoing description.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A marking device for making marks at predetermined intervals along aboard or the like, comprising in combination, a frame member havingsubstantially parallel and spaced side portions defining alongitudinally disposed open space, said side portions being joinedalong their upper edges by a top portion, a handle member carried bysm'd frame member and extending above said top portion, a marking rollerjournaled to said side portions adjacent the forward end of the framemember to roll in said open space, a supporting roller journaled to saidside portions adjacent the rearward end of the frame member to roll insaid open space, an ink-applying roller journaled on said side portionsintermediate the said marking roller and said supporting roller to rollin said open space, the axes of said marking roller, supporting rollerand ink-applying roller being parallel to each other and disposedtransversely of said longitudinally disposed open space, an ink-transferdevice carried by said marking roller on the circumferential peripherythereof at a reference location on its circumference, said inkapplyingroller being in juxtaposition to said marking roller to cause theink-applying roller to engage, and recurrently apply ink to, saidink-transfer device upon each rotation of said marking roller, said sideportions extending longitudinally of the device between said markingroller and said supporting roller and protruding downwardly to belowsaid ink-applying roller to guard said inloapplying roller againstcontact at the sides of the device intermediate of the said markingroller and said supporting roller, guide means carried by a side portionof the frame member to extend adjacent both the marking roller and thesupporting roller from the bottom edge of said side portion beyond areference plane tangent to the circumferences of both the marking rollerand supporting roller to -guidingly engage, at spaced locations adjacentboth the marking aoaaesa roller and the supporting roller, the side of aboard or the like along which the marking device is moved whereby theangular disposition of the marking device relative to the board or thelike may be maintained.

2. A marl" g device for mahn-g marks at'predetermined intervals along aboard or the like, comprising in combination a frame member having anopen bottom end, a marking roller and a supporting roller journaled onsaid frame member on parallel axes disposed transversely of said framemember to expose said rollers through said open bottom end, said rollersbeing "adapted to rollingiy engage the top of a board or the like alongwhich the marking device is moved on a reference plane tangent to thecircumferences of both said rollers, an ink-transfer device mounted onsaid marking roller to extend radially outward from the circumference ofmarking roller at a reference location on said circumference to revolvetherewith and to transfer ink therefrom to the surface of a board or thelike upon the coincidence of said reference location with said referenceplane'as the marking roller rolls along said board or the like, anink-supply device carried by said frame member intermediate of saidmarking roller and said supporting roller and positioned in Vjuxtaposition to the said marking roller to recurrently engage andsupply ink to said ink-transfer device as said ink-transfer devicerevolves on the circumference of said marking roller, said frame memberincluding spaced side portions extending downwardly and extendingbetween said marking roller and said supporting roller to below saidink-supply device to guard said ink-supply device along the sides of themarking device intermediate of the w marking roller and supportingroller, and guide means carried by said frame member along a said sideportion and disposed along said open bottom end thereof to extend belowsaidreference plane and engage a side of a said board or the like forguiding the device as it is moved along a'said board or the like, saidguide means having spaced guide bearing portions at a location along thesaid frame side portion adjacent the marking roller and at a locationalong the said frame side portion adjacent the supporting roller toprovide guidance for the frame member at said locations. i 3. A markingdevice comprising a marking roller having an ink-transfer portion at areference location on its circumferential periphery for applying ink toa surface as the marking roller rolls along said surface to bring saidink-transfer portion into engagement 'with said surface upon eachrevolution of the marking roller, a rotatable supporting member adaptedto rollingly engage said surface at a distance from the axis of saidmarking roller, a frame member for carrying said marking roller and saidsupporting member, an ink-applying device carried by said frame memberfor recurrently engaging said inktransfer portion of the marking rollerupon each revolution thereof to apply ink thereto, said frame memberextending downwardly beyond said ink-applying'device and extendingbetween the marking roller and supporting roller to embrace saidink-applying device and provide protection thereto, and guide meanscarried by said frame member and extending along a line spaced from andparallel to a common line through an end of said marking roller and anend of said supporting roller for guiding longitudinal movement of themarking device along a path normal to the axis of said marking roller,said guide means extending forwardly to a location adjacent said markingroller and rearWardly-to' a location adjacent said rotatable supportingmember to provide long-bearing guidance for the frame member at saidlocations.

4. A marking device comprising, a frame member having a body portion ofinverted U-shape in cross-section and of gradually decreasing heightfrom the forward end thereof to the rearward end, said frame memberhaving a handle portion disposed above said body portion and extendedlongitudinally thereof, a marking roller journaled is moved, said rimshaving friction means on the-outer.

thereof and disposed to rotate on an axis parallel tothe axis of saidmarking roller, said marking roller and supporting roller being adaptedto be rolled along a board or the like along which the frame member ismoved, said marking roller having spaced annular rims extending radiallytherefrom adapted teen-gage a surface of said board or the like as themarking roller is rolled therealong, an ink-transfer device ofrubber-like material mounted'inter'mediate said rims of the markingroller at a point around its circumference and protruding at said pointradially outward beyond said rims to transfer ink from the ink-transferdevice to a board or the like along which the marking roller is rolled,ink-supply means carried by said body portion of the frame member inposition to supply ink to said ink-transfer device as said markingroller is rotated, said frame member having side wall pbrtions extendingdownwardly to below said ink-supply means and longitudinally of theframe member between said marking roller and supporting roller to :guardsaid inksupply means along the sides of the device, and yieldable detentmeans interengaging said frame member and marking roller for resistingfree rotation of the marking roller and for yieldably holding themarking roller in a selected position of a plurality of selectablerotatable positions.

5. A marking device comprising the combination of, a frame memberdefining a longitudinally extending channel and having spaced skirtportions extending along the sides thereof, a marking roller journaledto said frame member adjacent one end thereof to rotate on an axistransverse to said channel, said marking roller having spaced annuiarrims extending radially therefrom to engage a board or the like alongwhich the marking device edge thereof for providing frictionalengagement with said board or the like, an ink-marking member mounted onsaid marking roller intermediate the said rims "and protruding radiallyoutward therefrom at a point on the circ'umference of the marking rollerto mark ink on said board or the like upon said point becoming the pointof tangency between said board or the like and the marking roller as themarkingroller is rolled along said board or the like, an ink-supplyingroller journaled to said frame ember in said channel 'on an axisparallel to the axis of said marking roller andpositioned to engage andsupply ink to said ink-marking member as said marking roller rotates, asupporting member mounted to said frame member adjacent an' opposite endthereof for engaging said board or the like to maintain the spacing ofthe frame member from the said board or thelike as the marking 7 deviceis moved longitudinally of said board or the like, said spaced skirtportions extending between the said marking roller and supporting memberand to below the circumferential extent of said ink supplying roller toguard the ink-supplying roller from the sides of the device, and aguiding member carried by said frame member independently of the markingroller and disposed along said channel to engagera side of said board orthe like along a line longitudinally of the device as said markingdevice is moved along the board or the like for maintaining thealignment of the marking device withrthe said board or the like, saidguiding member extending forwardly to adjacent the marking roller andrearwardly to adjacent the supporting member to provide engagement withthe board or the like at points adjacent both said marking roller andsaid supporting member. a

6. In a marking device for applying ink marks at predetermined intervalsalong a board or the like, the comto said body portion adjacent theforward end thereof and 7 marking roller adapted to rollingly engage asurface along which the marking roller is rolled, an ink-marking memberof yieldable rubber-like material mounted on the marking rollerintermediate said rims at a point on the circumference of the markingroller and extending parallel to the axis of the marking roller, saidink-marking member protruding radially outward of said rims to yieldablyengage and mark ink upon a surface along which the marking device ismoved at the point of tangency between said marking roller and saidsurface, a supporting roller journaled on said frame member at adistance from the marking roller on an axis parallel to the axis of themarking roller to support the frame member relative to said surfacealong which the marking device is moved, said frame member extendingrearwardly of said supporting roller a predetermined distance to areference location for providing a reference distance between saidlocation and the said point of tangency between said marking roller andsaid surface, ink-supply means carried by the frame member formaintaining 'a supply of ink to said inkmarking member, and aspring-biased detent member carried by the frame member urged towardsaid marking roller, said marking roller having a plurality of dwellsdistributed therearound for cooperatively engaging said detent memberwhereby said marking roller may be selectively set at a predeterminedrotative position upon interengagement of \the detent member and aselected dwell.

7. The combination of a marking roller, a supporting roller, anink-supplying roller, a frame member carrying said rollers on parallelspaced axes, said frame member having a portion extending rearwardly ofsaid supporting roller to abut a reference upright plane a predetermineddistance from the point of tangency of the marking roller with ahorizontal plane along which said marking roller and supporting rollerare rolled, an ink-transfer member mounted on the circumference of themarking roller at a fixed location thereon and disposed along a lineparallel to the axis of the marking roller, said ink-transfer memberupon reaching said point of tangency being positioned at saidpredetermined distance from said reference upright plane, sm'dink-supplying roller being disposed relative to the marking roller toengage and apply ink to the ink-transfer member on each rotation of themarking roller, resiliently yieldable detent means carried by the framemember, and a plurality of spaced detent-engaging means carried by themarking roller and associated with the detent means whereby the markingroller is yieldably restrained against rotation by the detent meansengaging a selected one of the spaced detent-engaging means.

8. In a marking device, an ink-marking roller rollable along an uppersurface of a board or the like, an inktransfer member radiallyprotruding from the circumference of the ink-marking roller along a lineparallel to the axis of the roller, a supporting roller having an axisspaced from and parallel to the axis of the ink-marking roller, a framemember carrying said rollers to permit the rolling of the rollerstogether along a course, ink-pad means carried by the frame member inposition for recurrently engaging and applying ink to the ink-transfermember upon each rotation of the ink-marking roller, a longitudinalguide member carried by the frame member along a line disposed in afirst plane normal to the axes of the ink-marking roller and thesupporting roller, and adjustable means for raising and lowering theguide member relative to a second plane tangent to the circumferences ofsaid ink-marking roller and supporting roller engageable by said uppersurface of a board or the like whereby the guide member may be loweredbelow the said ink-marking roller and supporting roller to guidinglyengage the side of a said board or the like.

i 9. A marking device comprising a frame member, said frame memberforming an inverted channel defined by spaced side walls and a top wall,a marking roller journaled to said side walls adjacent a first end ofthe frame member, a supporting roller journaled to said side wallsadjacent an opposite end of the frame member, an inksupplying roller forsupplying ink to the marking roller journaled to said side wallsimmediate of said marking roller and said supporting roller, the axes ofsaid marking roller, supporting roller and ink-supplying roller beingdisposed in parallel relationship, said marking roller being adapted tomake an ink mark at the point of tangency between said marking rollerand a common plane tangent to both said marking roller and saidsupporting roller and along which the device is rolled, said side wallsextending between said marking roller and said supporting roller toembrace and protect the ends of said inksupplying roller, at least oneof said side walls extending beyond said common plane along which thedevice is rolled at a location adjacent the said first end of said sidewall and at a location adjacent the said opposite end to provide guidingengagement at said locations with the side edge of a board or the likealong which the device is rolled, said frame member having a referenceportion extending at said opposite end along a side wall thereof adistance beyond said supporting roller to provide a predeterminedspacing of said point of tangency from a reference point on said planecoinciding with said reference portion.

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